2005 HIFF Rising Star Emily Blunt delivers a magnetic performance as the young queen that assumes power during the last days of England's golden age.  The object of a royal power struggle, with everyone trying to win her favor from her the moment of her birth including her own mother, Victoria is the target of the advances and attention of the charming prime minister Lord Melbourne (Paul Bettany) and her handsome cousin Albert (Rupert Friend).  Ultimately a story of romance as much as that of the machinations of wealth & power, what emerges is a tale of both modern love and a new way of governance.

Expected to be in attendance:  Director Jean-Marc Vallee

David Bezmozgis was born in Riga, Latvia, in 1973, and immigrated to Toronto with his parents in 1980. He earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from McGill University and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Southern California School of Cinema- Television.  David’s writing has appeared in magazines such as Harper’s, The New Yorker and Zoetrope All-Story, and has been anthologized in Best American Short Stories, 2005 & 2006. His story collection, Natasha and Other Stories, was a New York Times Notable Book and was translated into more than a dozen languages. In 2003, David wrote, directed and edited THE GENUINE ARTICLE: THE FIRST TRIAL, a feature length documentary. Previously he directed 2 short films THE DIAMOND NOSE and L.A. MOHEL.  He is currently finishing work on his first novel.

David Bezmozgis was born in Riga, Latvia, in 1973, and immigrated to Toronto with his parents in 1980. He earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from McGill University and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Southern California School of Cinema- Television.  David’s writing has appeared in magazines such as Harper’s, The New Yorker and Zoetrope All-Story, and has been anthologized in Best American Short Stories, 2005 & 2006. His story collection, Natasha and Other Stories, was a New York Times Notable Book and was translated into more than a dozen languages. In 2003, David wrote, directed and edited THE GENUINE ARTICLE: THE FIRST TRIAL, a feature length documentary. Previously he directed 2 short films THE DIAMOND NOSE and L.A. MOHEL.  He is currently finishing work on his first novel.